Jesus spoke for Jehovah in the Old Testament

Jesus was the Creator during the Old Testament

“All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3).

“That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I AM [Jehovah], and there is none else.” (Isa. 45:6).

“I [Jehovah] form the light.” (Isa. 45:7).

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I AM the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.… Then said they unto Him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know Me, nor My Father: if ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also.” (John 8:12,19).

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” (Col. 1:15-17).

Jesus was the Judge and Lawgiver during the Old Testament

 “When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.” (Matt. 25:31,2).

“Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.

Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him.

He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people.” (Ps. 50:2-4).

“O worship [Jehovah] in the beauty of holiness: fear before Him, all the earth.

Say among the heathen that [Jehovah] reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: He shall judge the people righteously.

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.

Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice

Before [Jehovah]: for He cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth: He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth.” (Ps. 96:9-13).

“For [Jehovah] shall judge His people, and repent Himself for His servants, when He seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left…. Rejoice, O ye nations, with His people: for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and will render vengeance to His adversaries, and will be merciful unto His land, and to His people.” (Deut. 32:36,43).

“For [Jehovah] will judge His people, and He will repent Himself concerning His servants.” (Ps. 135:14).

“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; when He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” (2Thess 1:7-10).

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord [God’s word, the Old Testament scriptures in Paul’s day], that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1Thess. 4:15-17).

Taken altogether, these scriptures say that Jesus was the one referred to by David and Moses as Jehovah who would come to judge, as Christ and the apostles also proclaimed.

“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent Him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:22-24).

The Son, the Word of God, was the Rock of the Old Testament

“Hearken to Me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek [Jehovah]: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. For [Jehovah] shall comfort Zion: He will comfort all her waste places; and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of [Jehovah]; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. Hearken unto Me, My people; and give ear unto Me, O My nation: for a law shall proceed from Me, and I will make My judgment to rest for a light of the people. My righteousness is near; My salvation is gone forth, and Mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon Me, and on Mine arm shall they trust.” (Isa. 51:1-5).

“I will publish the name of [Jehovah]: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.

He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.” (Deut. 32:3,4).

“And [the children of Israel] did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” (1Cor. 10:4).

“Thou sawest till that a Stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth…. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the Stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.” (Dan. 2:34,35,44,45).

“Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the Stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner.” (1Pet. 2:7).

“Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The Stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this Stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” (Matt. 21:42-44).

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18).

Jesus was the Angel who delivered Israel from Egypt and fought for them against the Canaanites

“Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of Him, and obey His voice, provoke Him not; for He will not pardon your transgressions: for My name is in Him.” (Ex. 23:20,21).

“Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, Mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.” (Ex. 32:34).

“And I will send an Angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.” (Ex. 33:2,3).

“This is [Moses], that was in the church in the wilderness with the Angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us.” (Acts 7:38).

“And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an Angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.

When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,

Saying, I AM the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.

Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

I have seen, I have seen the affliction of My people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel which appeared to him in the bush.

He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.” (Acts 7:30-36).

“And the Angel of [Jehovah] appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

And when [Jehovah] saw that he turned aside to see, [Elohim] called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

Moreover he said, I am [Elohim] of thy father, [Elohim] of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and [Elohim] of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

And [Jehovah] said, I have surely seen the affliction of My people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;…

And [Elohim] said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Ex. 3:2-7,14).

The Angel of Jehovah was Jehovah. In other words, Jesus, the Angel of His Father assumed His Father’s place of Lordship over Israel and over fallen humanity. Jesus has been the advocate for delivering us from Satan’s captivity since the Garden of Eden. No one can come to Jehovah apart from coming through Jesus.

“And  [Jehovah] said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.” (Ex. 4:21).

“And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay My hand upon Egypt, and bring forth Mine armies, and My people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am [Jehovah], when I stretch forth Mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.” (Ex. 7:3-5).

“And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is [Jehovah’s] passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I AM [Jehovah]. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to [Jehovah] throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.” (Ex. 12:11-14).

Jehovah the Son, the master of riddles and parables, spoke for Jehovah His Father, and for Himself. Jesus spoke as the Jehovah of Israel and the Angel of Jehovah. He, speaking in the authority and voice of Jehovah, had spoken of Himself as the Angel that He would send with Moses. Likewise, He also spoke of His own incarnation and ministry. He was Jehovah who spoke of Himself, whom He would later send to be His Servant. This wasn’t deceptive; it was discrete. It was too soon to open to Israel the beautiful truth of the Dual Godhead Father and Son, lest Satan would rapidly inject the pervasive polytheism of Babylon into the holy Hebrew religion. Not until they could be introduced to the purity, self-denying, and self-sacrificing character of Jehovah’s Son, and the Early Rain of the Father’s Spirit fall upon them could they know the truth of the Godhead and be kept from the intense draw of the prevailing idolatry.

The reality was that Christ, the Word of Jehovah, spoke to the prophets as Jehovah, in the name of His Father Jehovah. “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” (1Pet. 1:10,11).

“Behold My Servant, whom I have chosen; My Beloved, in whom My soul is well pleased: I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto victory. And in His name shall the Gentiles trust.” (Matt. 12:18-21).

“Behold My Servant, whom I uphold; Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth; I have put My Spirit upon Him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench: He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for His law. Thus saith [El Jehovah], He that created the heavens, and stretched them out; He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.” (Isa. 42:1-5).

“For I am [Jehovah] thy [Elohim], the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.” (Isa. 43:3).

“And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy Him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at His doctrine.” (Mark 11:18).

“Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself.” (John 7:16,17).

“This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto Me; Him shall ye hear.” (Acts 7:37).

“[Jehovah] thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto Me; unto Him ye shall hearken;

According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.

And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.

I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put My words in His mouth; and He shall speak unto them all that I shall command Him.

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto My words which He shall speak in My name, I will require it of him.” (Deut. 18:15-19).

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31,32).

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM [Jehovah]. Then took they up stones to cast at Him: but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” (John 8:58,59).

Jesus, the Son of Jehovah, took His Father’s name, and represented Him throughout the whole Old Testament. When we see Jesus we see the Jehovah of the Old Testament. When we hear who we think to be Jehovah in the Old Testament, we really are hearing Jesus, His Father’s spokesperson, the living Word of Jehovah. No one hears the Father Jehovah but by His chosen Representative, His Son. Jesus has always been and will always be Jehovah’s thoughts made audible.

“Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD^H3068 [Jehovah]? and there is no God^H430 [Elohim] else beside me; a just God^H410 [‘Êl] and a Saviour; there is none beside me.” (Isa. 45:21). “Him [Jesus] hath God [Theos] exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:31).

“I and My Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from My Father; for which of those works do ye stone Me? The Jews answered Him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God^G2316.” (John 10:30-33).

“And again, when He bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him….

Unto the Son [He saith], Thy throne, O God,^G2316 is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God,^G2316 even thy God,^G2316 hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

And, Thou, Lord,^G2962 [Kurios] in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands:

They shall perish; but Thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

And as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.

But to which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool?” (Heb. 1:6,8-13).

Jesus, the Creator Jehovah

Below is about the NT expression: “God made”. Who was the Creator God? In the following verses the Greek Theos was the Hebrew Elohim.

“From the beginning of the creation God [Theos] made them male and female.” (Mark 10:6).

 “This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God^H430 [Elohim] created man, in the likeness of God^H430 [Elohim] made He him;

Male and female created He them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.” (Gen. 5:1,2).

“So God^H430 [Elohim] created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.” (Gen. 1:27).

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made. These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD^H3068 God^H430 [Jehovah Elohim] made the earth and the heavens,… And the LORD^H3068 God^H430 [Jehovah Elohim] formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Gen. 2:1-4,7).

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God^G2316 [Theos], and the Word was God^G2316 [Theos]. The same was in the beginning with God^G2316 [Theos]. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:1-3).

“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God^G2316 [Theos], who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God^G2316 [Theos], according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Eph. 3:8-11).

Jesus was the great broker of Old Testament covenants

“Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God^G2316 [Theos] made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.” (Acts 3:25).

“For when God^G2316 [Theos] made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.” (Heb. 6:13,14).

“Now the LORD^H3068 [Jehovah] had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the LORD^H3068 [Jehovah] had spoken unto him.” (Gen. 12:1-4).

“And, behold, the word of the LORD^H3068 [Jehovah] came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

And He brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

And he believed in the LORD^H3068 God^H430 [Jehovah Elohim]; and He counted it to him for righteousness.” (Gen. 15:4-6).

“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD^H3068 [Jehovah] appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God^H410 [El]; walk before Me, and be thou perfect.

And I will make My covenant between Me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

And Abram fell on his face: and God^H430 [Elohim] talked with him, saying,

As for Me, behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

And I will establish My covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God^H430 [Elohim] unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God^H430 [Elohim]….

But My covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

And He left off talking with him, and God^H430 [Elohim] went up from Abraham.” (Gen. 17:1,8,21,22).

“And it came to pass after these things, that God^H430 [Elohim] did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of….

And they came to the place which God^H430 [Elohim] had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

And the Angel of [Jehovah] called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God^H430 [Elohim], seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me.

And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD^H3068 [Jehovah] it shall be seen.

And the Angel of [Jehovah] called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

And said, By Myself have I sworn, saith [Jehovah], for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed My voice.” (Gen. 22:1-18).

The angel of Jehovah speaks as Jehovah Elohim, who Paul said was God. Therefore, God^G2316 [Theos] of Hebrews 6:13,14 was the LORD^H3068 [Jehovah] of Genesis 12, 15, 18, and 22, the Son of God, God’s Angel.

It was Jesus who overwhelmed the prophets by His power 

“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.” (Rev. 3:21).

“Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: and they saw the God of Israel: and there was under His feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in His clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel He laid not His hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.” (Ex. 24:9-11).

“And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a Man above upon it. And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of His loins even upward, and from the appearance of His loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of [Jehovah]. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face.” (Eze. 1:26-28).

“His body also was like the beryl, and His face as the appearance of lightning, and His eyes as lamps of fire, and His arms and His feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of His words like the voice of a multitude. And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. Yet heard I the voice of His words: and when I heard the voice of His words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.” (Dan. 10:6-9).

“And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; and His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters. And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in His strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.” (Rev. 1:13-17).

“At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art Thou, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” (Acts 26:13-15).

“Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered Him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am He. And Judas also, which betrayed Him, stood with them. As soon then as He had said unto them, I am He, they went backward, and fell to the ground.” (John 18:4-6).

 

Jesus has all authority and power; no one else can speak in Jehovah’s name and to reveal Him to mankind

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.” (Matt. 28:18).

“All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.” (Matt. 11:27).

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not the Father [Jehovah]. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father [Jehovah] and the Son [of Jehovah].” (2Jn. 1:9).

“Whosoever denieth the Son [of Jehovah], the same hath not the Father [Jehovah].” (1Jn. 2:23).

Since no one knows the Father, then the Jehovah you love in the Old Testament is really Jesus, the Son of Jehovah. Praise both their names.

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou [the Lamb] art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

And hast made us unto our God^G2316 [Theos] kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” (Rev. 5:9-13).

The Man Child

It’s an oxymoron, man child. A man is strong; a child is weak. A man child is the weakest of the weak who will become the strongest of the strong. It means a full man in a little body, a baby who will be great, a potential king. It’s someone a reigning king would kill for fear that such a child could be a competitor for the throne.

That’s what the Bible says did happen. In a picture much bigger than humanity could ever take in fully. Just as the closer that a microscope gets to the inner molecular structure of its matter the less visible the material appears, and just as our whole universe looks different from our night time perspective compared to the picture we would see if we could move away from it for a jillion light-years, so the war between Satan and God is too big for us to distinguish without the aid of God’s word.

A conflict for rulership has been fought on a grand scale beyond all conception. The conflict has spread to Earth, and by the powers of both entities involved, the same war has been seen repeatedly throughout human history. In a single soul, in families, in communities, city-states, and in nations, the same battle has raged.

“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her Child^G5043 as soon as it was born.

And she brought forth a Man^G730 Child^G5207, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her Child^G5043 was caught up unto God, and to His throne.

And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

And there was war in heaven: Michael and His angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him….

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the Man^G730.” (Rev. 12: 3-9,13).

G5043 teknon From the base of G5098; a child (as produced): - child, daughter, son.

G730 arrhen, or arsen Probably from G142 to carry, lift up; male (as stronger for lifting): - male, man.

G5207 uihos Apparently a primary word; a “son” (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figurative kinship: - child, foal, son.

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed^H2233 and her seed^H2233; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee…. And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man^H376 from the LORD.” (Gen. 3:15,16; 4:1). The woman of Revelation 12 was the church of the Old Testament, even though always a very small remnant, carrying the holy Seed of Christ in their hearts and characters down through the ages to full fruition.

H2233 zera’ From H2232 [to sow, disseminate, plant, fructify:- bear, conseive seed, yield]; seed; figuratively fruit, plant, sowing time, posterity: - X carnally, child, fruitful, seed (time), sowing time.

“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child:^H2145 then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.” (Lev. 12:2).

H376 ‘îysh Contracted from H582 ēnōshe (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation.): - also, another, any (man), a certain, + champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, [foot-, husband-] man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he high (degree, him (that is), husband, man-kind], + none, one, people, person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso (-ever), worthy. Compare H802.

Therefore, the promised “seed” to Eve was the man child Jesus, and also “the children which God hath given Me.” (Heb. 2:13). But, the serpent’s seed was the man child Cain and his evil progeny. “The good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one.” (Matt. 13:37,38).

“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.” (1Jn. 3:8-12).

The seed of Cain have ruled this world like an army of Anakims who have no fear of God, while the afflicted seed from the Spirit of Christ have been like sheep counted for the slaughter. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2Tim. 3:12).

“No man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” (John 3:13). The Son of man is the Son of Adam and the Seed of Eve. He was the Man Child, or the Child Man. He is a Prince and a Priest, a just God and a Saviour. He convicts of sin with one look of His searching eyes, but He comforts all who bow before His convicting look, forgiving them of all their sin.

“For all those things hath Mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word.” (Isa. 66:2).

“O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, Thou knowest it altogether.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand upon me.” (Ps. 139:1-5).

The Sent of God was a hardly perceptible power as His Spirit passed down from Adam and Eve through ancient times to our day, and His living in them to counteract the toxic power of the devil was also known in scripture as the smallest amount of yeast making its way throughout a whole loaf. “The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.” (Matt. 13:33). No wonder that the devil has always been on the lookout for the Seed of God and His Seed’s seed who also have wielded the leavening power of His Spirit in their mouths and lives.

Ancient symbolism has always used a branch to signify a descendent or a lineage. “But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail.” (Dan. 11:7). We still use this literary form when we speak of our own family trees.

The man Child, the Son, the Seed, was also known as a little sprout. He was the meek and lowly One, along with His humbled, contrite followers. “There shall come forth a rod [a twig] out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch [a shoot] shall grow out of his roots:… And shall make Him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears: but with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth:… And righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins.” (Isa. 11:1-5).

“For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour My Spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring: and they shall spring up [sprout] as among the grass, as willows by the water courses” (Isa. 44:3,4), “…to satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth [sprout]…” (Job 38:27)

“Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven” (Ps. 85:11), “for as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.” (Isa. 61:11).

Yet, though He is small, yet He commands with full authority. He spoke the words of His Father; He would live by every word of His Father, and would let the word of God fight for Him. He is the man child.

“And Jesus said, Who touched Me?…And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched Me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before Him, she declared unto Him before all the people for what cause she had touched Him, and how she was healed immediately. And He said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” (Luke 8:45-48). Power and tenderness.The Man Child. No one is the same in His presence. Pride and self-sufficiency flee away with the legion of devils.

“And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto Him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?... When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” (John 8:3-5,10,11).

The Man Child has been first and the least; and He has been last and the greatest. Because He has been a sprout and a lowly twig, He can understand our lack of greatness, our want of genius and talent. “Though the LORD be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly.” (Ps. 138:6).

“Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (Heb. 2:17).  Because the man child developed into a man who could stand before God, He can stand before the Almighty, presenting their weakness to Him; and He can stand firm as a rock before men infused with the wily power of the devil. “For Thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.” (Ps. 18:27).

“And He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked.” (Isa. 11:4).

“This they said, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not.

So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst….

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

The Pharisees therefore said unto Him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.

Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of Myself, yet My record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

And yet if I judge, My judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent Me.

It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent Me beareth witness of Me.

Then said they unto Him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know Me, nor My Father: if ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also.

Then said Jesus again unto them, I go My way, and ye shall seek Me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

And He said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

I have many things to say and to judge of you: but He that sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of Him….

Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things.

And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him.

As He spake these words, many believed on Him….

They answered Him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill Me, because My word hath no place in you.

I speak that which I have seen with My Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

They answered and said unto Him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

But now ye seek to kill Me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to Him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me.

Why do ye not understand My speech? even because ye cannot hear My word.

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

And because I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not.

Which of you convinceth Me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me?

He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

Then answered the Jews, and said unto Him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour My Father, and ye do dishonour Me.

And I seek not Mine own glory: there is One that seeketh and judgeth.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death.

Then said the Jews unto Him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep My saying, he shall never taste of death.

Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

Jesus answered, If I honour Myself, My honour is nothing: it is My Father that honoureth Me; of whom ye say, that He is your God:

Yet ye have not known Him; but I know Him: and if I should say, I know Him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know Him, and keep His saying.

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and He saw it, and was glad.

Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.

Then took they up stones to cast at Him: but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” (John 8:6-9,12-26,28-30,33-59).

Jesus is the Man Child, the youthful Heir to the throne. “Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: Thou hast the dew of Thy youth.” (Ps. 110:3).

“The heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all.” (Gal. 4:1). Therefore, it is true of Jesus that He looked nothing different from us; He didn’t lord over us, though He was Lord of all creation. “He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.” (Isa. 53:2). But, at an early age He showed the strength of His courage.

The Son of man, the Man Child, can reproduce other sons, children, seed, as He made reproduction so in the natural world.

“And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.” (Gen. 1:11).

 “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12,13).

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (1Jn. 3:9). “He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man.” (Matt. 13:37). “The seed is the word of God.” (Luke 8:11). The seed is the Spirit and His promises and admonitions sown throughout the scriptures and blown about into our hearts. Then Christ through His Spirit waters and brings the seed to life for our quickening.

Let’s determine to open wide our hearts to His seed, to let His convicting Spirit and Law go deep, until His seed and His will take root, “the engrafted word”. And then let’s keep it until He comes.

“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (Jas. 1:21,22).

“Said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31,32).

Son of sons and Child of childs

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” (Isa. 9:6).

Because of the darling, beautiful nature of little ones, they always get hugs and kisses. That’s why Jesus gave them to us. That’s why God gave us in His Little One of little ones. He gave this world something we would love, not something offensive. Our Father in heaven was trying to win us back, and not to destroy us, when He sent His dearly Beloved.

“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall He eat, that He may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.” (Isa. 7:14-16).

 “And the child [Isaac] grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.” (Gen. 21:8). When Jesus was born, He was weaned from the direct contact of His Father. It was a difficult transition, but, there was rejoicing in heaven that day. “When He bringeth in the Firstbegotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him.” (Heb. 1:6). “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:13,14).

“I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He hath bestowed on them according to His mercies, and according to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses.” (Isa. 63:7).

“And when she had weaned [Samuel], she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young. And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.” (1Sam. 1:24-28). Do you see the Son’s celebrated weaning when He was incarnated into humanity? Did the Father sing a song in the heavenly throne room like Hannah’s when the long expected lending of His Son to lost humanity finally occurred in the torturous dungeon of Satan’s usurped world? The Father created His Son’s human egg, which He fertilized with His Spirit, and which grew up into a sinless human manifestation of His Son and kill His wicked host?

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.” (Isa. 11:6-8).

Our salvation depends not as much on knowing about Jesus, as it depends on knowing Him. Not just an intellectual exercise, but a journey to feel after and find Him. He must become “the desire of thine eyes” (Eze 24:16), “until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” (2Pet. 1:19). We must gain an intimate trust and love for the Son. And then, He will give us love for His Father. “No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.” (Matt. 11:27).

“Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.” (Ps. 2:11,12).

“And therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him.” (Isa. 30:18).

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isa. 40:31).

Blessed are all they who trust in the Son, “in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: that we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.” (Eph. 1:11,12). “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God…. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:17,18,35,36). “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth Him also that is begotten of Him.” (1Jn. 5:1).

 The royal Child from heaven was 110% dependent upon God, His Father. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth Him all things that Himself doeth.” (John 5:19,20). He wasn’t dependent only as an infant, but even after growing into full maturity. In this we see purity and beauty, His example for us all.

“Naomi took the child, held him close, and took care of him.” (Ruth 4:16). This long sought child given to Ruth was the love of her mother-in-law’s life. Ruth and her mother-in-law longed for a son to remove their reproach. To them, Obed was like the child Noah had been to his parents and to their Adamic community, “And [Lamech] called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground [H127 ‘ādâmâh, “earth, land”] which the LORD hath cursed.” (Gen. 5:29).

Likewise, the Son of Mary came as the Saviour to Earth and to His land which the God of heaven had cursed. Jesus came possessing a childlikeness that exalted Him in God’s sight, and, by contrast, shaming the wily Herod, political Pilate, and all the calculating and pompous religious leaders. There was nothing political about Jesus; He was all natural. He was not of this world; He was other-worldly; He was heavenly. “He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.” (Isa. 53:2). The Child of God had nothing in this world, but was rich with eternal, heavenly gifts. “Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.” (Ecc. 4:13).

If we will be admonished and humbled, we can stand with the meek Son who came from God’s throne. “Is Ephraim My dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore My bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.” (Jer. 31:20).

“[Herod] sent [the wise men] to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found Him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also…. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matt. 2:8,11).

“He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground.” (Isa. 53:2). Will we search diligently for the meekness and tender-heartedness of Jesus, which never left Him throughout His lifetime and neither has it left Him in the courts above?

He is a “merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (Heb. 2:17). “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” (Heb. 7:25,26).

The holy harmless Son as our Mediator before God we see in the young priest, Samuel. “The child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision…. And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.” (1Sam. 3:1,19-21).

“She … brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” (Matt. 1:25). “And when [the shepherds] had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.” (Luke 2:17). “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him…. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother knew not of it. But they, supposing Him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found Him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking Him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.” (Luke 2:40,43-46).

Once we conceptualize the image of Jesus and His childlikeness, will we hold on to that vision? Nothing else than a view of the holy, loving Gift of all heaven can quicken us with the life of the living God, and keep us living. “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will.” (John 5:21). “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” (Rev. 5:6).

Or, will we lose sight of Jesus, and struggle for many days trying to get His presence back again? Thankfully, He is always right where we leave Him, searching out the deep things of God. But, when we do find Him, let’s not blame Him for His disappearance and the difficult, sorrowful and painful journey back into His presence, as His parents’ blamed Him. He will say to us the same as He did to them, “How is it that ye sought Me? wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49).

His parents had lost the larger picture of the Messiah’s work. In His younger years He lived to bless others. Now, at the age of accountability, Jesus had only one thing on His mind ―His Father’s work of redeeming this world. We too often lose sight of these last days and the need to stay in constant connection with Jesus. God had to remind the parents of Christ, not through an angel visitor, but directly through His Son. Jesus spoke no differently than did Samuel to his surrogate parent, Eli. In every gentle and submissive way, He spoke the truth from His Father. This incident was the first of other open corrections to His parents and siblings from Him in whom all fullness dwelt.

Yet, in His mature, warranted reproof, He had a love and peace that nothing could disturb, not even from punishment that He didn’t deserve. “And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them.” (Luke 2:51). Like His father, David, He submitted to unjust hardship. “They that hate Me without a cause are more than the hairs of Mine head: they that would destroy Me, being Mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.” (Ps. 69:4). His constant tendency to eschew self-defense and self-preservation shows His deferential mind and His true self-sacrificing love.

Toward the end of His ministry “came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them…”

“And He took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when He had taken him in His arms, He said unto them,” “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” (Mark 9:36; Matt. 18:1-7).

More than any other description, delicate, gentle, and childlike love has characterized God’s eternal kingdom. Naturally should the Son demonstrate those traits because He was begotten from the holy, meek Jehovah. We see and know Jehovah through His meek and lowly Son. No one who refuses these chiefest attributes of the Son can be part of His Father’s kingdom that He is reinstating after Lucifer had demolished them.

Again, when His disciples were doing the work of Satan while setting up the kingdom of God, Jesus had to reiterate the importance of children’s innocence and dependence. “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them. And when He was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to Him, and asked Him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:15-17). The power of love, pure and innocent, alone can will throw down strongholds of sin. Let us look to the Son. “For Thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.” (Ps. 18:27).

Even after suffering on the cross and offering up His soul to God, He retained His same childlikeness; He was still the same holy Child. But, now He was interceding for them before the holy, majestic God of Abraham.

“Who by the mouth of Thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ.

For of a truth against Thy holy Child Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done.

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy word, by stretching forth Thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Thy holy Child Jesus.

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:25-31).

We will mature in our Christian walk, but never lose the warm heart of Jesus. Paul was the perfect example of this. “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” (1Cor. 13:11). He bore a straight testimony to ungodliness within the church, but only because he loved them. Because Paul cared for the church in Corinth, he rebuked and chastened.

“Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.

And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.” (2Cor. 7:12-16).

“Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

To redeem them that were under [the curse of] the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Gal. 4:1-7).

When we have received instruction, learned obedience, and when we’ve finally done the will of God, we will receive the promised Spirit. Until that day, we live under the blessings of His grace upon grace. “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” (Heb. 10:36).

“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” (Phil. 2:1-7).

“We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Heb. 2:9).

“Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into Thy lips: therefore God hath blessed Thee for ever…. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.” (Ps. 45:2,7).

“He chose David also His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:

From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.” (Ps. 78:70-72).

“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.

The LORD shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies.

Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: Thou hast the dew of Thy youth.” (Ps. 110:1-3).

“And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise Him up at the last day.” (John 6:40).

Then, when that day arrives that we are grown strong and weaned from grace for grace, all the fullness of God pours down upon us. The Child of God becomes precious to us.

Or, He becomes a Stone of stumbling. To all who pay no heed to His love and won’t take in the richness and fatness of the Son’s blessedness will stumble out of the arms of God and fall from His salvation. They will be “rejected”. They will bear “thorns and briers”, which are “nigh unto cursing” “whose end is to be burned.” (Heb. 6:8). They will become children of the devil. As Paul told Elymas the Jewish spiritualist who was counteracting God’s work of salvation, “O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:10).

“He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. ” (John 1:11). The Jews had become so religious and “faithful” that they couldn’t see their need of the power of God to give them a new heart. They believed themselves to be saved, and the rest of the world to be lost. Because of their prejudice and arrogance, most of the Jews couldn’t be saved. Therefore He said, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7). They couldn’t love the simplicity and childlikeness of their Messiah.

“Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief Corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the Head of the corner, and a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” (1Pet. 2:6-8).

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12,13). To those who love what they see in the Son, who long for the love of the Son and His acceptance, and who trust in Him, He will become precious. Through the faith of the relationship we developed with Him and by Him, we will be justified and have peace with Him and His Father.

“And [Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth] lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her…. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” (Ruth 1:14,16,17).

Do you see in this the clingy Child of God being born in Naomi and Ruth before Obed actually came into the world? Do the scriptures testify of Jesus for your salvation? Do you see Him clinging to both us and to His Father Jehovah throughout His ministry, and especially on the cross? By the Son’s clinging to both God and man, He atones for the gulf that sin created between Jehovah and you, and all of His children of Earth.

God gave us His heart when He sent His Prince. “For [Jehovah] so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

Do you see the true beauty shining from the Son? Can you love Him and His childlike righteousness and faithful obedience to His Father? The Son is precious. Kiss the Son. No man comes to Jehovah, but by His Son. Let your heart love Him. The Child of God is precious. Kiss the Child; and by doing so, “Thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.” (Isa. 30:15).

Where there is no vision of Jesus and His presence by His precious Spirit, our hope and faith languish. When we can see and trust and love Jesus we have the rest in heart and mind and body that He promised. Thus, we keep the Sabbath commandment and we have the promise of the Son’s Spirit. We have peace when we love and trust His Son because the anger of His Father against our sins is no longer on us. The wrath of Jehovah’s justice subsides; the peace from His Spirit abides, a peace that is beyond all comprehension.

Today, if we will choose to trust and love the most deferential Son of sons and lowliest Child of children, then when He comes the second time as powerful King of kings and authoritative Lord of lords, we will be waiting for Jehovah Jesus, the King of kings, Lord of lords, Son of sons, and Child of childs. He will come without sin unto salvation, and our only words to Jesus, the tender Branch of Jehovah, will be, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” (Isa. 25:9).